This course provides an overview of the central themes and key theoretical questions in economic history, and examines the ways in which economic historians, collect, analyse and interpret evidence. Each week addresses a topic or question and considers problems of knowledge and explanation in economic history, and the merits of different types of methods and analysis. After an introduction to the history of the field and what makes it distinct, we consider the ways in which economic historians measure and document economic change over the long run, and then examine factors contributing to different patterns of growth and development, ranging from institutions to the role of women in economic history. We conclude by debating the relative merits of different scales used in economic history research. Each lecture will pair a conceptual and theoretical review with a historical case study illustrating applied research, which will be considered further in the seminar.